Growing up in Texas, I was most definitely a meat and potatoes guy, however I remember clearly the first time in my life I ever tried salmon, an experience that would change my favorite food group immediately.
It was a summer in Boston, my girlfriend and I were traveling to NY to visit her family and they were preparing a meal upon our arrival. Needless to say, I was not informed it would be fish, and being the grateful guest, I certainly didn’t try to avoid the dish. However to my surprise, the salmon was flavorful, non-fishy, packed full of protein and went very well with the white wine they poured for us all. Since then, every time I go out to eat and the menu has grilled salmon, that’s my signature go to dish.
Salmon’s Health Perks
Salmon offers one of the widest range of health benefits of any meat on the market. Known for it’s Omega 3 fatty acid content, high protein, and low fat, Salmon is by far one of the best super foods available in today’s market.
Omega Factor: Salmon’s claim to fame is it’s dense Omega-3 content, known for the ability to both prevent cancer and help defeat current tumors. In a peer review conducted by various scientists, one thing was consistent in the findings, and that is the profound impact salmon can have on the human body.
Protein Power: Salmon also offers one of the highest levels of protein in any single portion of meat, poultry, or fish. If this is not enough to convince you to pick salmon over chicken, or your favorite steak cut, then knowing that a standard 5 oz portion of salmon can provide your body with a whopping 40 grams of protein!
Now that we understand a couple of the major components of what Salmon has to offer, it’s time to get down to the bottom line, how does salmon help our health?
Whole Body Wellness: A single portion of salmon offers more than a days’ worth of Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to various health problems including cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease to name a few. Without the proper amount of vitamin D in one’s diet, your body is severely lacking the proper nutrients and vitamins needed to keep you healthy.
Brain and Neurological Wellness: Omega 3 is by far one of the greatest things salmon has to offer and is known for it’s ability to help improve various brain functions and improve memory. Combined with the daily dose of vitamin A and D that salmon offers, salmon has offered relief to those suffering from depression and potential side affects of taking depression medications. Parkinson and Alzheimer is also on the list of potential benefits this fish has to offer.
While there are tons of other articles, scientific papers, and personal accounts of how salmon can benefit your health, finding the right combination of portion and amount of intake is equally important. 
Whether you are planning to smoke your salmon, grill it, bake it or spread it on your morning bagel, reaching for this omega-3 rich and protein packed super food is always the healthier choice. So next time you are out and about at your favorite restaurant, look to see if they offer salmon and give it a try, you might just be surprised.
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